Keeping Their Balance

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SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- Five different players registered at least nine kills in a balanced effort that helped the NAIA's No. 8-ranked Azusa Pacific bounce back from an opening-set loss for a 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 29-27 road win over The Master's Saturday night.

After the opening-set loss, the Cougars hit for a combined .375 percentage in sets two, three, and four, with senior right side hitter Whittany Radcliffe leading the way with a team-high 14 kills. Outside hitters Marguerite Hanna (12 kills) and Jackie Landers (10 kills) were both in double figures also, and middle blockers Christy Cain and Amy Alkazin tallied nine kills with just one error each.

Cain added six of Azusa Pacific's 11 blocks in the match, and The Master's leading hitter Samantha Dougherty committed 13 attack errors to go with her match-high 18 kills.

With the win, Azusa Pacific moves into a tie for second place in the Golden State Athletic Conference with Fresno Pacific, which suffered a three-set loss at home to No. 22-ranked Vanguard Saturday night. The Cougars are now 19-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play.